FTC rules Amazon is liable for in-app charges made by kids

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NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that Amazon is liable for in-app purchases made by children, the latest development in a suit filed by the Federal Trade Commission in 2014.

The FTC reached a settlement agreement with Apple and Google in 2014 about in-app purchases made by children without parental consent but sued Amazon when the Seattle company did not agree to settle. All three companies now require a password for in-app purchases or an opt-in to enable purchases without a password.

The judge asked for information from the FTC and Amazon about how much money Amazon owes consumers related to the in-app purchases.

Amazon.com Inc. did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.